Page 42

“His body?” I ask.

“Rites withheld,” Hunter says. “We removed his ring, burned off his tattoos, and sent his body for cremation.”

“Along with Billy,” I confirm, feeling the sting of betrayal like fresh acid in my veins. At least three of my own men turned traitor. Four if you include Will and his actions from last summer. “What about Liam?”

“Brain dead,” Hunter says flatly. “No visitors. No family has come to see him.”

“Because they’re humiliated,” Graves notes. He and I were in BRN with Liam and Billy’s fathers. We were brothers once. Still are, I suppose. This kind of betrayal stains the whole bloodline. “It’s presumed his organs will fail next.”

“And Kendrick?”

“He’s in isolation at the House of Night,” Hunter says. “Giving him time to think about his actions before we decide what to do with him next.”

That’s everyone, then. All of our direct leads to the Guardian have been severed.

Arianette moves closer to the side of the bed, her hand reaching tentatively for mine. I don’t pull away, but I don’t react either. Not outwardly. Inside, my pulse spikes hard. My cock twitches and begins to stiffen between my legs despite my senses being dulled from the painkillers. My desire for this woman is just as strong as it was before I ended up in this bed.

Which is exactly why I’m in this bed.

Weakness.

Softness.

The curse of the most basic instinct: lust.

I let her manipulate me into showing her my face. I let her convince me to take her to the Mercer Christmas party, when I knew it was dangerous. I let my feelings drag me out that door and into the dark, wet night, down into the tunnel. I risked everything–my identity, my power, my life–to save her.

I don’t regret that. If she’d died–No. I swallow, pushing the thought out of my mind. It only highlighted what I already knew: Arianette is a liability for me. I’ve known it from the very beginning. The traitors in my ranks knew it. The Guardian knows it. And now the entire insufferable city of Forsyth knows it.

There’s a reason the Kings give the Royal frat leadership a House Girl–it’s a weakness. It keeps them in line, too focused on their cocks and getting them wet to think much beyond parties and sex. First Amber, now Arianette.

If I’m going to get my ring back, if I’m going to reclaim my life and restore order, there’s only one path forward.

I have to give her up.

I pull my hand away from hers, and that simple move causes a ripple of pain through my chest. Her eyes flicker with confusion and hurt, but I keep my expression impassive. “You shouldn’t be here,” I say, voice flat.

“Timothy–” she starts, but I cut her off.

“You’re a liability.” The words taste bitter, but I force them out anyway. Stubbornness and pain twist together into something cruel. “We’re torn apart because of you, because I let you in. Because I allowed you to become a weakness.”

The room goes deathly quiet. DK and Hunter both stiffen, like they’re trying to figure out their next move while Arianette stares at me, lips slightly parted, like I just slapped her.

Good.

Maybe if I’m cruel enough, she’ll make this easier.

“But I’m your–” she starts. Fucking hell. This woman never knows when to stop. I give Hunter a look, and he reads it clearly.

“Come on, Ari,” he says, grabbing onto her bicep.

“What? No. I didn’t do anything wrong! I sat by your side through all of this and you’re kicking me out?”

I ignore her outburst and the way it makes my heart feel like it’s cracking in half. I feel nothing but relief when Hunter gets a hold of her and removes her from the room.

Now I’m just facing down my replacement, who stares down at me like he’s unsure of what to do next. Yeah, neither the fuck do I.

“Go,” I tell DK. “Take care of the frat and one another. There’s a war going on out there. Spending time here is only allowing them to get the upper hand. This,” I gesture to my lame body, “is my problem. Not yours.”